Reality shows dominate summer TV
Former coach of "The Voice" CeeLo Green promotes his best friends' group, Goodie Mob, on the new TBS unscripted series "The Good Life." Credit: Matthias Clamer
Unscripted series exploded in the summer, circa 2000. That's when "Survivor" made its mark while most of TV slumbered in repeats.
Now "reality" shows and competitions run year-round, everywhere, yet summer still boasts its own. Already back are Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" and NBC's "America's Got Talent" and "Last Comic Standing." More are on the way.
NEW UNSCRIPTED SHOWS
TUESDAY NIGHT: Famous in 12 (CW, 8 p.m.) Harvey Levin's TMZ machine backs a family's push for celebrity in 12 weeks.
JUNE 8: Rev. Run's Sunday Suppers (Cooking, 10 p.m.) Run-D.M.C. front man has offspring home for the weekly meal.
JUNE 8: The Hunt (History, 10 p.m.) Metallica voice James Hetfield narrates the Kodiak brown bear hunt.
JUNE 11: Big Smo (A&E, 10:30 p.m.). "Hick-hop" artist hangs with his Tennessee family in "Duck Dynasty" companion series.
JUNE 17: Abby's Studio Rescue (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) "Dance Moms" star now whips underperforming studios into shape.
JUNE 21: Kid President: Declaration of Awesome (Hub, 7 p.m.) Young Web star interviews celebs (Jamie Foxx, Gene Simmons).
JUNE 23: CeeLo Green's The Good Life (TBS, 10:30 p.m.). "The Voice" coach promotes his best friends' group, Goodie Mob.
JUNE 28: Buying Naked (TLC, 10 p.m.) Nudists seek dream houses in clothing-optional communities.
JULY 5: My Dysfunctional Family (CMT) Relationship "fixer" works with out-of-whack relatives.
JULY 10: Celebrity Damage Control (Reelz) Stars rebuild their public image after crimes or misbehavior.
JULY 17: Dating Naked (VH1) Exotic locales host dates between clothes-free strangers . . . #Candidly Nicole (VH1) Nicole Richie's AOL web series comes to cable . . . Leann & Eddie (VH1) Tabloid couple Rimes and Cibrian hit TV, too.
AUG. 7: Seven Deadly Sins (Showtime, 11 p.m.) Documentarian Morgan Spurlock explores each vice.
NEW SEASONS
TUESDAY NIGHT: Top Gear (History, 9)
JUNE 8: Keeping Up With the Kardashians (E!, 9 p.m.)
JUNE 8: Sister Wives (TLC, 9 p.m.)
JUNE 11: Duck Dynasty (A&E, 10 p.m.)
JUNE 19: Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (TLC, 9 p.m.)
JUNE 22: Wipeout (ABC, 7 p.m.)
JULY 1: Drunk History (Comedy Central)
JULY 2: Man Finds Food (Travel)
JULY 21: Hotel Hell (Fox)
